Signboard



Get. 19 1926. 1,603,938

D. c. DOBBINS SIGNBOARD Filed April 14, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i 1/, I (/7 g I I? J L A A f Inventor 2.6.l7oizzs,

Atmrney Oct. 19 26.

SIGNBO D Filed April 14, 1926 4 Sheets-Sh 5 Oct. 19,1926. 1,603,938

D. c. nossms S IGNBOARD Filed April 14, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 @fllll! E, C Dal 3 .65728 Patented Oct. 19, 1926,

DONALD C. DOBBINS, OF.CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.

SIGN BOARD.

Application filed April 14, 1926.

the common outdoor poster advertising signs.

The present object is accomplished by means of rotating triangular prisms so alined as to present three distinct and practically continuous composite plane surfaces, varying in width according to the number and width of the faces of the prisms, and with the height the same as the length of the prisms, which prisms, so arranged and pivoted in line on the center of each end, will quickly shift from one composite face to another by a synchronized one-third rotation of all of the prisms, accomplished with comparative swiftness through a novel mechanism.

Another important object of the invention resides'in the provision of a sign board of this nature having a plurality of com pactly arranged and combined mechanical partswhich are simple in their construction yet thoroughly reliable and efficient.

Further, a very important object of the invention resides in the provision of a sign board of this nature which may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost, will not easily become out of order, and is otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which it is designed.

lVith the above and numerous other objects in view as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain' novelfeatures of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing Fignre 1 is a side elevation of a store front sign embodyingthe features of my invention,

' Fig. 2 is a top'plan view thereof showing a portion in section,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of an outdoor advertising sign embodying the features of myinvention, and

. tom of the frame.

Serial No. 101,978.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof showing a portion of the top broken away,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking downwardly,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical fragmentary section taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail horizontal section taken substantially on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is an substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 7,

Fig. 10 is a detail section taken substantially on the line l0l0 of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the frame is designated generally by the letter F and has mounted therein a plurality of prisms P from the upper ends of which project pintles 1 journaled in the upper portion of and from the bottom ends of which project double crank shafts 2 journaled in the hot- The crank shafts 2 are cranks 2 and 3, the former of which are pivotally engaged with rods i and the latter with rods 5 so that the prisms will operate in unison.

In Figs. 1 and 2, I contemplate usingtwo rows of the prisms while in Figs. 3 .and 1, a single row is used. Hereafter, I shall refer specifically to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as the-embodiment shown in Figs. 3 and 4 will be quite apparent.

An important and novel feature of this invention is the application of the two offset connecting rods 4 and 5 for the purpose of rotating all of the prisms in absolute unison from the power applied to one of the prisms and the placing of both of these connecting rods at one end of the prisms only, so as to simplify the construction of the pivot bearing atthe other end of said prism, and reduce the expense of construction by having a single crank shaft for each prism. The use of the two connecting rods with their hearings on each prism at a radial angle of 90 to each other, prevents the centering of the pull of the connect-- ing rods at any time and insures the continuous and easy movement of the prisms provided with two enlarged detail section taken the frame F i witha minimum of moving parts and friction, together with a positive alinemen-t of the faces of the prisms when at rest.

It is intended that the composite even surface made by the prisms shall be used for the display of signs or advertising, either painted or otherwise permanently affixed to the faces of the prisms, or paper sheet signs that can be quickly pasted on the faces of the prisms while at rest, and then, by slitting along the thin clearing spaces between the faces of the prisms, allowed to rotate to the next series of faces and similar advertising applied to those, cutting in the same wa and so on.

uccessive sheets of new advertising matter may be pasted over these, limited only by the amount of separation between the prism faces, and when that limit is reached, the old sheets removed by scraping, and the process repeated. There will also be occasion, in some instances, to use a combination of permanent advertising and pasted sheets. For instance, in the case of advertisements of moving picture houses and theaters, etc., in front of the building or elsewhere, the name of the theater and its permanent display can be pasted or otherwise affixed to one or two composite faces of the sign board, and pasted sheets showing current or approaching attractions, or scenes therefrom, which, in the development of this form of advertising, will no doubt be furnished in a standardized size by the producers, can be pasted on the remaining composite face or faces.

It must be apparent that most rotating signs of this character will be operated only during certain periods of the day (or night), and that the advertising matter or sign on one of the three composite faces should be designed for permanent display, and. that it is desirable to have a mechanism which will leave that face exposed when the rotating power is shut ofl It will also be desirable, with many of the signs, to have one of the faces displayed for a longer interval than the other two. Both of these objects are accomplished in this invention through means of the primary and secondary escapements which will be described later.

On the bottom ends of the extreme left hand prisms P there are fixed gears 7 and 8 which are in mesh with each other so that the prisms of one row rotate in a counterclockwise direction While the prisms of the other row rotate in a clockwise direction, thereby allowing the two rows of prisms to be compactly arranged in relation to each other as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. "These gears 7 and 8 are of the same size and the gear 8 meshes with a driving gear 10 as is clearly shown in Fig. 7.

The driven wheel 10 is rigidly aflixed to a tubular shaft 11 and in this tubular shaft,

resting upon a'thrust'bearing 12 at the lower end of it, is a solid shaft 13which extends upwardly to a bearing 14 affixed to the lower side ofthe upper frame of the sign. Afiixed to the driving gear.l0 is the lower end of a coiled spring 15 which loosely encircles the tubular shaft 11 to its upper end, where it is .its lower bearing 21 on the bracket 22,

which supports the electric driving motor 23. The latter, on the end of its armature shaft, has a small spiral gear 24, which meshes in the last reducing gear 19, there being an adequate allowance for reduction of speed, so that a motor operating at the standard speed of say seventeen hundred and twenty-five revolutions per minute will allow a period of ten or fifteen seconds for a complete rotation of the prisms, and a fraction of a second will be required for each shifting operation, its length depending upon the strength of the spring 15 as will be brought out more clearly hereinafter and the tension at which it is set for the operation. This interval, in order to avoid shock to the apparatus and to guard against wear, should not be made unduly short.

A bushing 25 driven into the upper end of the tubular shaft 11, with an opening corresponding in size to the circumference of the solid shaft 13, forms the upper bearing of the tubular shaft. Its lower pivot, driven into the lower end of the tubular shaft 11, is the short stub end 12 of a bronze or similar metal, which also acts as a socket forthe lower pivot end of the shaft 13, as mentioned above. The stub end 12 of the tubular shaft rests in the socket bearing 26,-fastened to the upper side of the lower frame of the sign.

- The primary escapement has a-rocker arm 27 of spring steel fastened to one end of a spool shaft 28, through which extends a plain bearing shaft 29 which is rigidly supported at each end. On the opposite ends of the spool shaft, there is fastened an upright lever 30 which extends upwardly to the level of the collar 16 that is rigidly affixed to the shaft 13 just above the upper end of the tubular shaft 11. Onthis collar 16, there is a projecting cam wheel 31 which, with each rotation of the shaft 13, moves the upright arm 30 so as to depress the 8 and 10 respectively to pass concurrently over the end of the rocker arm. Up to that moment, the projections will have been held firmly against the rocker arm by the tension of the spring 15.

The projections 32 and 33 are placed in such position on the gear wheels 7 and 8, that when they rest against the rocker arm 27, they hold the permanent face of the prisms in alinement and exposure. On the opposite side of the gear wheel 10 there is a shorter projection or lug 34. This is of restricted length so that it clears both ends of the rocker arm when it is held in its level position by the action of a spring 35; but if the power should be shut off immediately after the depression of the rocker arm 27 has permitted the lugs 32 and 33 to escape and before the cam 31 has released the upright arm 30, then the opposite end of the rocker arm, being raised, will hold the wheel approximately in its permanent position, and prevent the running down of the spring 15. This emergency catch 34 wlll seldom be required to function, inasmuch as the cam 31 will release the upper end of the trip arm after the wheel 10 has passed over only a few degrees of its circle following the release of the lugs 32 and 33. The emergency catch 34, of course. is disposed so that it will not engage the shorter end of the rocker arm until after the gear 10 has completed approximately one full revolution and therefore when the sign is in operation, the shorter end of the rocker arm will be depressed by the spring 35 before the lug 34 reaches the same.

The secondary escapement consists of a rocker arm 36 moving in a horizontal plane and pivoted on a bearing 37 on the lower portion of the sign board frame on the 0pposite side of the driving wheel 10 from the resting position of the lugs 32 and 33, and slightly outside the circumference of the driving wheel 10. Fastened securely to the inner side of this rocker arm 36 is a spring 38, and near each end of this spring, to its inner side, there are secured two projections or lugs 39 and 40. so placed as to engage with the .outer and forward vertical corner of the lug 33 when it shall have completed, respectively one-third and two-thirds of its revolutions with the wheel 10, after being released by the primary escapement rocker arm 27. When the lug 33 comes in-contact with the spring 38 just before reaching the lug 39, it presses the spring over toward and nearly-against the rocker arm 36, slightly checking the rotation of the wheel 10, which comes to a stop when the lug 33 reaches the nearest shoulder of the lug 39.

This pressure upon'the spring 38 produces a tension, and the tension of thespring communicated to the rocker arm 36 starts the latter in motion so as o rotate the balance -w ind the spring 15 and to rotate the wheel 41 through a rack 40' and pinion 41; and afterthe spring 38 has, through this rotation, been relieved of its tension, the inertia of the balance wheel 41 will continue the movement of the rocker armdrawing the lug 39 out of the path of the lug 33 and at the same time moving the lug 40 into the path of the lug 33, where the reverse of the process just described will take place, putting the lug 39 back into the position shown in the drawing.

The wheel 41 may be made of such weight that to set it in motion and complete one revolution of it through the process above described, it will consume approximately one-third of the period required for the electric driving motor to cause a complete revolutlon of the shaft 13. This wheel 41 has a pro ection 42 on its lower side which engages with a stop 43 fastened to the floor of the frame F so that it will not over-run as it revolves back and forth.

When it is desired to make the intervals during which the lug 33 is held against the lugs 39 and 40 of a shorter duration than the time of its being held by the rocker arm 27, this may be accomplished by constructing the balance wheel 41- of lighter construction, with recesses on the upper side for the addition of weights. Thus by adding or removing the weights, the permanent face of the sign may be displayed for either a shorter or longer period than each of the other two faces.

At the upper end of the tubular shaft, there is a projection 44 whichis rigidly connected with the tubular shaft 11 in such po sition that when, in the operation of the apparatus, the tension on the spring 15 is the least, this projection will be against the convex side of the trip lever 45. This trip lever 45 is fastened to the side of the collar 16 by a pin 46 which forms its bearing. F astencd to the extreme end of the lower side of the bracket 22 is a spring 47 which has an opening through which the shaft 13 extends, large enough so that there is no friction betwecnit and the shaft as is clear ly illustrated in F ig. 9.

At this point, also, this springis widened to such an extent as will afford contact with the trip lever 45 if it should be raised at any point by the rotation of the collar 16. This spring 47 has sufficient tension to hold the switch point 48 firmly against the switch point 49, contact between these two points being necessary in order to close the power circuit C.

If, in the operation of the apparatus, the prisms should become stalled so that the wheel 10 driven by the spring 15 will not rotate them, the motor will continue to shaft 13, and the collar 16 carrying the trip lever 45, until the concave side of the lower is also directed to the arrangement of the,

arm of the trip lever overtakes the projection 44 at the upper end of the tubular shaft, and by its pressure against it, will lift the spring47, breaking the power circuit by separating the points 48 and 49 and the circuit will remain open until, byfmeans of either the intentional or adventitious removal of the obstacle, the prisms again begin to rotate, which will automatically close the circuit, and the'orderly operation of the apparatus will be resumed.

It is to be noted that the inertia of the motor will widen the gap between the points 48 and 49 after the circuit is broken so there will be. no leakage of current or spark jumping.

I have not illustrated the'illuminating apparatus inthe drawing, as this can be ineluded by any skilled mechanism.

Particular attention is directed .to the simplified, positive and practical features for the rotation of the prisms. Attention escapements to release the prisms for each one-third rotation into primary and sec-- ondary escapements, the primary escapement operating to hold the prisms for only one of the. three composite faces and releasing them from that position while the secondary escapement regulates the period of display and the release of the other two composite faces, and operates automatically and independently of a motor "which furnishes the power. 1 Thus when the power is shut off, either accidentally or intentionally,= the primary escapement will always hold the prisms with the same face exposed untilthe power is again turned on.

Attention is directed to the compactness of the combination of gears and spring in transmitting the power from the motor-to description thereof.

the rotating prisms. The motor continu ously Winding the spring and accumulatingits power while the prisms are in a stationary position and the spring delivering all of its accumulated power during the interval of rotation. The device is simple in construction and embodies a circuit breaker which prevents the overwinding of the spring in the event of and during a temporary or permanent interference with the movement of the prisms due to any casualty or to wind, snow,- sleet, or the. like, and automatically connecting the power circuit when the rotation of the prisms resumes.

changes the details of construction, and

in the combination and arrangement of parts-may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed or'sacrificing any of its advantages.

Havingthus described my invention, what I claim as new is:-- 1

1.- A sign of the class described including, in combination, a frame, a rotatably mounted display member in the frame, a continuously operating prime mover, a spring, means for tensioning the spring by the prime mover, means operating the display member by the spring, an escapement operatively connected with the last mentioned means to allow intermittent motion to be imparted to the display member by the spring, and a secondary escapement for regulating the display period of the display member.

2. A sign of the class described including, in combination, a frame, a rotatably mounted display member in the frame, a continuously operating prime mover, a spring, means for tensioning the spring by the prime mover, means operating the display member by the spring, an escapement operatively connected with the last mentioned means to allow intermittent motion to 'be imparted to the display member by the spring, and a secondary escapement for regulating the display periods of the display member.

3. A sign of the class described including, in combination, a. frame, a rotatably mount" ed display member in the frame, a continuously operating prime mover, a spring, means for tensioning the spring by the prime mover, means operating the display member by the spring, an escapement operatively connected with the last mentioned means to allow an intermittent motion to be imparted to the display member by the spring, a secondary escapement for regulating the display period of the display member, said secondary escapement operating independently ofthe prime mover.

4. A sign of the class described'including,

in combination, a frame, a rotatably.mount-' ed display member in the frame, anelectric motor, a spring, means for tensioning-thespring by the electric motor, means j'for opcrating the display by the spring, an escapement operatively connected with the last mentioned means to allow an intermittent motion to be imparted .to the display member, a circuit breaker in the circuitof the electric motor operable .whenthe display.

member becomes stalled, and. a secondary escapement for regulating. the display periods of the display member.

5. A sign of the class described including, in combination, a frame, a rotatably mounted display member" in the frame, anelectric motor, a spring, means for tensioning the spring by the electric motor, means for opmember becomes stalled, a secondary eserating the display by the spring, an escapeeapement for regulating the display periods ment operatively connected with the last of the display member, said secondary esll mentioned means to allow an intermittent capement operating independently of the motion to be imparted to the display memelectric motor.

her, a circuit breaker in the circuit of the In testimony whereof I afiix m signature. electric motor operable when the display DONALD G. D BBIN S. 

